Virgin Media

[filibuster]

I'm not sure I'm in the right place for this question but I want to know who to contact with a complaint about their insisting that when you take a telephone connection from them, you must take Broadband. A friend of mine took this option although he stated categorically that he would not be using the Broadband. He then received a letter saying that he would be charged a single connection fee for the Broadband of £36, thereafter £7.99 per month. On 'phoning Virgin, he was told that if the Broadband was removed so would the 'phone line. This seems to me to be very harsh, he being a pensioner.

[RATTER15]

If that is the only package that they provide, its up to them, you can hardly insist they tailor their products to suit you.

[RATTER15]

If you just want a telephone go to BT and not an internet service provider.

[snags]

''their insisting that when you take a telephone connection from them, you must take Broadband''

''A friend of mine took this option although he stated categorically that he would not be using the Broadband''

^ So your friend took the option, even though he knew he would have to have the broadband if he wanted the landline? What has he got to complain about?

[SlackAlice]

Are you sure it's a broadband connection, or a connection fee for the cable from pavement in to the house and fitting of 'phone point. The phone is piggybacked of the cable.

[snags]

''or a connection fee for the cable from pavement in to the house and fitting of 'phone pointn''

Could be... then £7.99 a month for the landline...

[filibuster]

Obviously, I shouldn't have bothered posting at all. There was an unfortunate history with BT so my friend was trying to get an alternative provider.

[daffy654]

.

[RATTER15]

I think you have got fair answers, maybe just not the answers you wanted. Oh well!!

[Old_Geezer]

I'm unfamiliar with the Virgin Media products/services, but I'd go along with you having to select one they offer or look elsewhere. Try those comparison websites, they often allow you to filter the results according to criteria. Maybe they'll let you look for phone service only deals.

[rojash]

McVities are similar.
If you want the chocolate you have to buy the digestive as well. It's outrageous. I've tried telling them that I will not eat the biscuit, just the chocolate, but they still insist on charging me for the whole thing.

[sunny-dave]

@rojash - that's outrageous, I'm sure with your status as old/young/black/white/male/female/carnivore/v
egetarian/catholic/jedi
(delete as applicalble) McVities should be forced to provide a fully tailored biscuit solution ....

< remember that the price of biscuits may go down as well as up >

< a chocolate digestive is for life not just for christmas >

[snags]

''If you want the chocolate you have to buy the digestive as well''

So opening the packets on the shelf and licking off the chocolate is unacceptable?

[sunny-dave]

@snags - only permitted after you've finished sucking the cream out of the cream horns with a straw

[jno]

it's not harsh, it's just what they offer. As a consumer you take it or leave it.

Is there any chance the history with BT could be sorted out? Or would a provider like TalkTalk be any help?

[Old_Geezer]

I can't see why anyone would want to sort out their history with BT. Over the last couple of decades they have grown steadily worse. Mu own experience is to be cut off without warning, and be lied to. If I could find an alternative supplier with the same advantages and none of the disadvantages I'd be off too.

[Huderon]

If you want a Virgin phone line, and do everything on line, you can only get the phone line as part of a bundle with something else - broadband or TV.

If you just want the phone line you have to call 0845 840 7777 and looking at the Virgin web page, it works out at £13.90 per month with a connection charge of at least £49.95.

Whatever package you go for, paying by anything other than DD will cost you £5.00 per month, and paper billing will cost £1.50 per month on top of your other charges.

It sounds to me as if he has got a reasonable deal for the phone by taking the broadband, even if he doesn't use it, as long as he is not facing a monthly charge for the broadband as well.